The woman nodded and moved on. I had no idea if I’d just agreed to something terrible.
Nearby, Torin leaned toward Wen and said something. She laughed, bright and genuine and beautiful, the sound cutting through the murmur of politics.
My attention snapped to them immediately. Wen had moved from greeting the dignitaries to the middle of the room, Killian hand-in-hand with her. She was showing him the decorating flowers and the different food being brought by our staff, trying to make our sonlessbored.
That was Wen’s real laugh. Not the polite one she used for diplomacy. Her actual laugh, the one that made her eyes crinkle, the one I worked so hard to earn. And Torin had made it happen. While I was talking about trade agreements I didn’t even remember.
Torin, who was there for Killian’s first word. Torin, who saw my son’s first shift. Torin, who apparently knew how to make my wife laugh while I was too busy playing king to notice she needed it.
My hand tightened on the arm of my seat.
This was ridiculous. Torin was loyal, protecting my family, doing exactly what I’d asked him to do. He was a good man. But right now, watching Wen’s face light up at something he said, I wanted to throw him out a window.
“Brother.” Aurion appeared beside me, smirking. “You’re glaring. You look like you want to commit murder.”
“I am considering it.”
“At your own banquet? Tacky.”
I forced my expression into something neutral. Or tried to. Based on Aurion’s widening smirk, I was failing spectacularly.
“Torin made Wen laugh,” I said, as if that explained everything.
Aurion blinked. “That’s... nice?”
“No. It is not nice. I should be making her laugh. I am her husband.”
“You’re also hosting seventy people. Bit busy.”
“I am aware.” I watched Wen say something back to Torin, still smiling. “I should be with her.”
“You should be here, greeting dignitaries.”
“I have greeted enough dignitaries.”
“You’ve greeted maybe twelve.”
“That is enough.”
“There are seventy.”
“Way too fucking many.” I grunted.
Aurion snorted. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I am being reasonable. She ismy-” I cut myself off, aware I sounded insane. “Never mind.”
“No, please continue. This is the most entertainment I’ve had all night.”
I shot him a glare that would have made lesser men cower. He just grinned.
“Shall wealltake our seats?” Aurion announced to the room, clearly sensing the need to move things along before I did something regrettable. Like abandoning my duties to sit Wen on my lap and glare at anyone who looked at her.
Servants stopped bringing appetizers and began bringing out the first course. Wen took her seat, Killian between us, and immediately reached for her hand behind Kill’s chair.
She squeezed back, leaning toward me, whispering. “You okay? You look tense.”
“I am fine.”
